1950s cars you probably never heard about...

[PALADIN85020]

Here are some 20 U.S. 1950s automobiles you probably have never seen or even heard about!

1959 GM FIREBIRD III

1959 CADILLAC CYCLONE

1957 CHRYSLER DIABLO

1958 FORD X-2000

1956 PONTIAC CLUB DE MER

1956 PACKARD PREDICTOR

1956 OLDSMOBILE GOLDEN ROCKET

1956 BUICK CENTURIAN II

1954 FORD LA TOSCA

1954 OLDSMOBILE ROCKET F88

1955 LINCOLN FUTURA

1955 FORD MYSTERE

1954 DE SOTO ADVENTURER II

1955 LINCOLN INDIANAPOLIS

1951 BUICK XP-300

1952 BUICK LeSABRE

1953 FORD X-100

1952 CHRYSLER D’ELEGANCE

1953 CADILLAC GHIA COUPE

1953 MERCURY D524

…and the reason you probably never heard of these cars? They were “concept cars” that were never put into production – made strictly to try out some futuristic concepts. You may recognize names that were later used for production cars, and you will probably notice some styling touches that were eventually used on consumer autos. These cars are extremely rare and valuable beyond belief.

John

 

[soFlaNative]

Love that gold Olds.
Looks like a catfish.

 

[shouldazagged]

And Jay Leno probably owns all of them.

 

[loknload]

shouldazagged,,,,,And Jay Leno probably owns all of them.

I don't know about that but he does own a Chrysler Turbine

 

[Targets Guy]

Verah nice photos. Thanks.

 

[loknload]

Some great cars listed here! Don't mean to hijack this post....but
If you want to read up more about them Hemmings Classic Car Magazine always has stories in them about these, one of the few magazines I read cover to cover!

 

[Arik]

1955 Lincoln Futura. Can we say Batmobile!!!

 

[JcMack]

I remember some of them from Car magazines I read back then. I especially remember that Pontiac with the shark fin on the middle of the trunk. Whats interesting is the dramatic change in styling from just 10-15 years prior.

 

[labworm]

1951 BUICK XP-300

I'll take it. Waiting for PM so I can send payment.

 

[jrm53]

I believe I saw the 54 Olds sell on Barret-Jackson auction sale a few years ago and I think it sold for a million + believe it was one of a kind it was comparable to the early Corvette in size and it was gold color. Jeff

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Then there was the Allstate.
The only I can recall seeing was sitting in the basement entrance of the big Sears Store in Memphis.
Sporting goods and tools were in the basement and that's my Dad would go.

 

[gman51]

There were some very fine experimental/prototype cars made back then and even today there are some that are only seen at new model trade shows.
Sorry to say some of the prototypes did make it to production but only after the prototype designs were drastically redesigned and tamed down which was a shame.
The 1958 Ford X 2000 is about a mister potato head looking car. That is perfect example of taking things to the extreme. That car IMO is next door to a left over warehouse scrap clearance project. But if the present owner wants to get rid of it I would take it off their hands.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I believe I saw the 54 Olds sell on Barret-Jackson auction sale a few years ago and I think it sold for a million + believe it was one of a kind it was comparable to the early Corvette in size and it was gold color. Jeff

That Olds is the only one of the 20 I listed that I have seen in person. It was at a Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. It did resemble the first Corvettes to a large extent.

John

 

[Donn]

1955 Lincoln Futura. Can we say Batmobile!!!

Beat me too it, Arik.

 

[walkinghorse]

1958 Ford X2000 looks like it was a concept that turned into the EDSEL!
That did not go over well for FORD!

 

[Muley Gil]

Then there was the Allstate.
The only I can recall seeing was sitting in the basement entrance of the big Sears Store in Memphis.
Sporting goods and tools were in the basement and that's my Dad would go.

I believe that was a Henry J under the Sears name.

 

[Bkreutz]

A lot of those care were only partially functional (meaning they would roll around and the doors opened but had no running gear) and few (if any) had chassis numbers so they couldn't be registered. A lot were destroyed by the manufacturers at some point. The ones that showed up at BJ were part of a lot that GM released for sale (including the "Futureliner" show bus [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwoUCNFpfkI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwoUCNFpfkI[/ame])

 

[meaneyedcatz]

1955 Lincoln Futura. Can we say Batmobile!!!

Good eye, but on the other hande Helen Keller could see that ( :

George Barris bought the car for $1 and look what he did.
Holy Turtle Wax Batman, that's cool.

 

[amazingflapjack]

beaucoup piasters...

Love that gold Olds.
Looks like a catfish.

One of those sold at Barrett-Jackson a few years ago for phone number price.

 

[amazingflapjack]

me too...

1951 BUICK XP-300

I'll take it. Waiting for PM so I can send payment.

A great daily driver for Florida.

That Cadillac looks like someone ruined another "50 Ford.